Krakora



J. KRAKORA RECLINING CHAIR Oct. 18, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1947 IVENTOR. John Krqkoru Oct. 18, 1949.

J. KRAKORA RECLiNING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1947 29 24 INVENTOR. John Krukoro Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECLINING' mm John Krakora, Park Ridge, Ill. Application December 31, 1947, Serial No. 795,007

4 Claims. (01.155-107) The present invention relates to chairs and more particularlyto chairs of the reclining type.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved chair of the reclining type including a seat and a back and a headrest, wherein the seat is moved between a normal declining position and an operated substantially horizontal position when the back is moved between a normal substantially upright position and an operated reclining position, and wherein the head-rest is movable between a normal reclining position and any one of a number of operated forwardly tilted positions when the back occupies its operated position.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a reclining chair of the type noted, improved 1 mechanism for moving simultaneously the seat and the back between their normal positloris and their operated positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a reclining-chair of the type noted, improved mechanism for controlling the position of the head-rest dependent upon the position of the back, whereby the head-rest may be selectivelymoved to any one of its operated positions when the back occupies its operated position and the head-rest is automatically returned to itsv normal position when the back is returned to its normal position.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the chair; whereby the above outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a reclining chair embodying the features of the present invention and illustrating the operated positions of the seat and the back and the normal positions of the head-rest and the platform, the operated position of the platform being indicated in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the chair, as shownin Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the chair illustrating the normal positions of the seat, the back, the head-rest and the platform; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear view of the chair, as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the chair illustrating the operated positions of the seat, the back, and the platform and the normal position of the head-rest, the normal position of the platform being indicated in dotted lines; Fig. 6 is'a fragmentary side view of the chair illustrating the operated positions of the seat, the back, the headrest and the platform; Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the back and the head-rest of the chair, as illustrated in Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the back and the head-rest of the chair, 'as illustrated in Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the back and the head-rest of the chair, as illustrated in Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary rear view of the lower portion of the;back of the chair illustrating the mechanism formoving it between its normal and operated positions; and Fig. 11 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional side view of the lower portion of the back of the chair, taken along the line Il-.ll in Fig. 10.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings, the reclining chair Ill there illustrated, and embodying the features ing elements l2 and I3 connected by a rear transversely extending support-engaging element It, two upwardly extending supporting elements l5 and I6 respectively connected to the elements l2 and I3 and respectively terminating in two arm rests or rails l1 and I8, that, in turn, are connected together by a rear transversely extending element or bar l9. Also the frame ll comprises a transversely extending front bar 20 arranged between theupwardly extending supporting elements l5 and i6 and disposed intermediate the support-engaging elements I2 and I3 and the arm rails l1 and I8. Further the frame ll comprises two downwardly extending members 2! and 22 respectively carried by the arm rails l1 and I 8 intermediate the upwardly extending supporting elements l5 and I6 and the rear bar l9, the members 2| and 22 respectively projecting toward the support-engaging elements l2 and 13. Finally, the frame ll comprises a transversely extending rod 23 connecting the lower ends of the members 2| and 22.

Further the chair in comprises a seat 24 arranged within the frame II and pivotally connected adjacent to the front edge thereof to the front bar 20. Preferably, the seat 24 is of onepiece metal construction although it may be of any other suitable form and is of the bucket type occupying a normal declining position. Also the chair I 0 comprises a back 25 arranged within the 3 frame H and pivotally connected adjacent to the lower edge thereof to the rear edge of the seat 24. The back 25 may be of one piece laminated wood construction or of any other suitable form and carries on the opposite sides of.the rear surface thereof, two'metal reinforcing strips 23 and 21. As best shown in Figs. 7 to 10. inclusive, the lower ends of the strips 25 and 21 terminate in knuckles that are pivotally connected to cooperating knuckles provided on the rear edge of the seat 24. Specifically, the strip 21 secured to the left-hand rear edge of the back 25 terminates adjacent to the lower end thereof in a knuckle 23 that is pivotally secured to a knuckle 23 arranged adjacent to the left-hand rear edge of the seat 24: which knuckles 28 and 23 are pivotally connected together by a pivot pin 30. Also as shown in these figures, the opposite ends of the rod 23 are threaded and extend through openings formed in the extreme lower ends of the members 2| and 22. specifically, as shown in Fig. 10, the left-hand end of the rod 23 is threaded as indicated at 23a and extends through an opening formed in a fiattened section 22a provided on the extreme lower end of the member 22; and finally, the left-hand end of the rod 23 is retained in place by two operating threaded nuts 3| arranged on opposite sides of the section 22a. Further the chair i0 comprises a head-rest 32 arranged above the back 25 and pivotally connected adjacent the lower edge thereof to the upper edge of the back 25. Specifically, two hinges 33 and 34 are disposed on opposite sides of the front surfaces of the back 25 and the head-rest 32 and respectively secured thereto. The head-rest 32 may be of one piece laminated wood construction or of any other suitable i'orm.

Two rollers 35 and 35 are respectively mounted on the rod 23 adjacent to the right-hand and lefthand ends thereof and respectively cooperate with two brackets 31 and 33 respectively carried adjacent to the lower ends of the reinforcing strips 26 and 21. More particularly, as best shown in Figs. and'11, the bracket 33 carried adjacent to the lower end of the reinforcing strip 21 is of substantially U-shaped configuration, the opposite ends thereof being suitably secured to the reinforcing strip 21 by welding or the like. Also the bracket 33 has a guide slot 38a formed therein which receives the assocated roller 35 mounted on the left-hand end of the rod 23. Preferably, the rollers 35 and 36 are of the anti-friction or ball-bearing type and normally engage the upper ends of the respectively associated brackets 31 and 38 when the seat 24 and the back 25 occupy their normal positions illustrated in Figs. 3, '7, 10 and 11. More particularly, the upper ends of the brackets 31 and 38 respectively carry two adjustable set screws 39 and 40 that directly engage the outer surfaces of the respective rollers 35 and 35. This arrangement permits slight adjustment of the normal positions of the seat, 24 and the back 25; Accordingly, when the seat 24 occupie its normal declining position and the back 25 occupies its normal substantially upright position, the weight of the back 25, as well as the weight of the rear portion of the seat 24, are carried directly by the rollers 35 and 36 through the respectively associated brackets 31 and 33 and the respectively cooperating set screws 33 and 40. Also at this time the head-rest 32 occupies its normal position arranged substantially in alignment with the back 25 and constituting a continuation thereof; whereby the weight of the head-rest 32 is also carried by the rollers 35 and 35, since the weight of the head-rest 32 is carried directly by the back 25.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 9, the

seat 24 has an operated substantially horizontal position and the back 25 has an operated reclining position. More particularly, when the seat 24 and the back 25 are moved from their normal positions to their operated positions, the seat 24 is pivoted upwardly about the front bar 20' disposed at the front edge thereof and the back 25 is moved upwardly and rearwardly; whereby the angle between the seat 24 and the back 25 become more obtuse. At this time, as the back 25 is moved from its normal position to its operated position, the brackets 31 and 38 are moved upwardly with respect to the rod 23 and the associated rollers 35 and 36; whereby the rollers 35 and 36 respectively engaging the lower ends of the reinforcing strips 25 and 21 guide the back 25 in its travel upwardly and rearwardly from its normal position to its operated position. When the back 25 is moved into its final operated position, the rollers 35 and 36 engaging the respectively associated lower ends of the reinforcing strips 26 and 21 support the lower edge of the back 25 and the adjacent rear edge of the seat 24. Also at this time the upper end of the back 25 is supported by the rear bar is extending between the rear ends of the arm rests l1 and iii.

The head-rest 32 comprises a normal position disposed substantially in alignment with the back 25 and a number of forwardly tilted operating positions; which arrangement is brought about by a mechanism comprising an upwardly and rearwardly extending support 4|, an associated ratchet 42 and a cooperating pawl 43. More particularly, the support 4| is in the form of a relatively narrow strip of steel or the like disposed rearwardly of the back 25 and intermediate the reinforcing strips 26 and 21, the extreme lower end of the support 4| being secured to the midsection of the rod 23 by an arrangement including a bracket 44. The inner end of the ratchet 42 is pivotally connected to the rear mid-surface of the head-rest 32 intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof by an arrangement including a hinge 45 and projects through a cooperating opening 4|a formed in the support 4| adjacent to the upper end thereof. Finally, the inner end of the pawl 43 is pivotally mounted on the rear mid-surface of the back 25 adjacent to the upper end thereof by an arrangement including a springbiased hinge 46; and the outer end of the pawl 43 is directed toward the support 4|, the pawl 43 being concealed by the support 4|.

When the seat 24 and the back 25 occupy their normal positions, the outer end of the pawl 43 is biased by the hinge 46 toward the back 25 and disengages the teeth providedon the lower surface of the ratchet 42; whereby the head-rest 32 is moved to its normal position disposed substantially in alignment with the back 25 by the action of gravity. However, when the seat 24 and the back 25 are moved to their operated positions, the back 25 riding upwardly and rearwardly with respect to the support 4| causes the outer end of the pawl 43 to be brought into cooperative relation with the ratchet 42. However, at this time the head-rest 3'2 occupies its normal position; whereby the ratchet 42 is projected through the opening 4|a formed in the support 4| as clearly illus-' when the head-rest 32 is thus moved from its normal position to one of its operated positions, the ratchet 42 is drawn through the opening 4|a formed in the support 4| and rides over the extreme outer end of the pawl 43. Accordingly, at this time when pressure is exerted upon the headrest 32, a tooth on the ratchet '42 engaged by the extreme outer end of the pawl 43 is engaged thereby preventing return movement of the headrest 32 from its operated position back to its normal position, since the outer end of'the pawl 43 also engages the support 4|; It will be understood that the seat 24 and the back 25 may be readily moved from their normal positions to their operated positions by a person sitting in the chair It merely by exerting pressure between the floor supporting the chair l0 and the back 25; whereby the seat 24 and the back 25 are moved into their operated positions, which positions constitute positions of stable equilibrium by virtue of the arrangement of the rod 23 and the rear bar I! supporting the back 25 respectively adjacent to the lower and intermediate sections thereof. At this time the head-rest 32 may be-operated from its normal position to any adjusted one of its operated positions merely by the person reaching overhead, seizing the head-rest 32 and pulling it forward. At this time the seat 24, the back 25 and the head-rest 32 occupy their operated positions, as clearly illustrated in. Figs. 6 and 9.

At this time the person sitting in the chair ll may return the seat 24, the back 25 and the headrest 32 to their normal positions merely by leaning into an extremely forward position causing his total weight to be exerted upon the seat 24. The

seat 24 is pivoted downwardly about the front bar 20, and the back 25 rides downwardly and forwardly upon the rollers 35 and 36 engaging the lower ends of the reinforcing strips 26 and 21 respectively. As the back 25 is returned from its operated position toward its normal position, it is first pivoted adjacent to the lower end thereof about the rollers 35 and 36 causing the back 25 to move into alignment with respect to the head-rest 32. As movement of the back 25 from its operated position back into its normal position continues, the back 25 is moved downwardly in order to cause the pawl 43 to move therewith with respect to the cooperating ratchet 42. More particularly, the extreme outer end of the pawl 43 disengages the tooth on the ratchet 42; whereby the ratchet 42 then falls through the opening 4|a formed in the support 4|; whereby the back the seat 24 is returned to its normal position,

L-shaped tubular element 50 that is direct-'1,- carried in openings formed in the brackets 48 and 43. The platform 41 comprises a normal position disposed adjacent to the right-hand edge of the seat 24 and adjacent to the right-hand arm rail l1 and an operated position disposed in front of the seat 24, as respectively shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 1. Whenthe platform 41 occupies its normal position, it maybe utilized as a tray and when the platform 41 occupies its operated position, it may be utilized as a foot-rest; Preferably, the openings formed in the brackets 48 and 43 are arranged slightly out of vertical alignment so that the platform 41 is disposed substantially horizontally when it occupies its normal position and is disposed at a slight incline when it occupies its operated position, as respectively shown in dotted and full lines a in Fig. 5, in order to facilitate use thereof respectively as a tray and as a foot-rest. Finally, the platform 41 carries a mat or pad 5| formed of sponge rubber or the like which may be readily moved out of position by an arrangement comprising two spaced-apart rings 52. For example,

the head-rest 32 already occupying its normal scribed above is released; whereby the head-rest v 32 is automatically returned to its normal position.

Further the chair It comprises a platform 41 that is mounted upon two vertically spaced-apart brackets 48 and 49 secured to the upwardly extending supporting element l5 disposed on the right-hand side thereof. Specifically, the platform 41 is rigidly secured to a substantially the pad 5| may be folded over onto the upper surface of the platform 41 when the platform 41 occupies its operated position in order to provide a padded foot-rest. On the other hand, if desired, the pad 5| may be folded out of the way and into a substantially vertical position when the platform 41 occupies its normal position and ,is to serve as a tray. This arrangement is very advantageous as it facilitates keeping the platform 41 clean so that it may serve as a tray when it occupies its normal position.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a chair of the reclining type, incorporating improved mechanism for moving the seat and the back thereof between their normal and operated positions and improved mechanism for controlling the position of the head-rest in accordance with the position of the back thereof, as well as a platform arrangement serving both as a, tray and as a foot-rest.

While there has been'described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A reclining chair comprising a frame, a seat, means pivotally connecting the front of said seat to the front of said frame, a back, means pivotally connecting the bottom of said back to the rear of said seat for movement between a substantially upright position and a reclining position, a pair of spaced-apart rollers carried by said frame rearwardly of the pivotal connection between said seat and said frame, a pair of spaced-apart substantially U-shaped brackets carried by said back and positioned adjacent to said rollers, said brackets engaging said rollers and supporting said back and the rear of said seat when said back occupies its substantially upright position, said rollers engaging said back and supporting it and the rear of said seat when said back occupies its reclining position, said back riding upwardly and rearwardly upon said rollers and said seat pivoting upwardly about the front thereof with respect to said frame and the angle between said seat and said back becoming more obtuse as said back is moved from its substantially upright position to its reclining position, and means including a portion of said frame disposed above and rearwardly of said rollers-and cooperating with said back for restraining said back in stable equilibrium when said back is moved into its reclining position.

2. A reclining chair comprising a frame including a transversely extending front bar and a pair of laterally spaced-apart arm rails connected to said front bar at either end thereof, a seat,

means pivotally connecting the front of said seat to said front bar, a back, means pivotally connecting the bottom of said back to the rear of said seat for movement between a substantially upright position and a reclining position, a pair of laterally spaced-apart supports carried by said frame rearwardly of said front bar and adjacent to the bottom of said back, a transversely extending rod carried bysaid supports, a pair of laterally spaced-apart rollers carried by said rod, a pair of spaced-apart substantially U-shaped brackets carried by said back and positioned adjacent to said rollers, said brackets engaging said rollers and supporting said back and the rear of said seat when said back occupies its substantially upright position, said rollers engaging said back and supporting it and the rear of said seat when said back occupies its reclining position, said back riding upwardly and rearwardly upon said rollers and said seat pivoting upwardly about said front bar and with respect to said frame and the angle between said seat and said back becoming more obtuse as said back is moved from its substantially upright position to its reclining position, and means including la transversely extending rear bar carried by said arm rails and disposed above and rearwardly of said rod and cooperating with said back for restraining said back in stable equilibrium when said back is moved into its reclining position.

3. A reclining chair comprising a frame, a seat, means pivotally connecting the front of said seat to the front of said frame, a back, means pivotally connecting the bottom of said back to the rear of said seat for movement between a substantially upright position and a reclining position, a transversely extending element carried by said frame rearwardly of the connection between the front of said seat and said frame, a pair of spacedapart substantially U-shaped brackets carried by said back and positioned adjacent to said element, said brackets engaging said element and supporting said back and the rear of said seat when said back occupies its substantially upright position, said element engaging said back and supporting it and the rear of said seat when said back occupies its reclining position, said back riding upwardly and rearwardly upon said element andsaid seat pivoting upwardly about the front thereof with respect to said frame and the angle between said seat and said back becoming more obtuse as said back is moved from its substantially upright position to its reclining position, means including a portion of said frame disposed above and rearwardly of said element and cooperating with said back for restraining said back in stable equilibrium when said back is moved into its reclining position, a head-rest, means pivotally connecting the bottom of said head-rest to the top of said back for movement between a normal position disposed substantially ber of operated positions forwardly tilted with' in alignment with said back to any one of a num respect to said back, means controlled in response to movement of said back into its reclining position for latching said head-rest in any one of its forwardly tilted positions when it is moved thereto, and means controlled in response to movement of said back out of its reclining position for releasing said latching means and for returning said head-rest to its normal position.

4. A reclining chair comprising a frame, a seat, means pivotally connecting the front of said seat to the front of said frame, a back, means pivotally connecting the bottom of said back to the rear of said seat for movement between a substantially upright position and a reclining position, a transversely extending element carried by said frame rearwardly of the connection between the front of said seat and said frame, a pair of spaced apart substantially U-shaped brackets carried by said back and positioned adjacent to said element, said brackets engaging said element and supporting said back and the rear of said seat when said back occupies its substantially upright position, said element engaging said back and supporting it and the rear of said seat when said back occupies its reclining position, said back riding upwardly and rearwardly upon said element and said seat pivoting upwardly about the front thereof with respect to said frame and the angle between said seat and said back becoming more obtuse as said back is moved from its substantially upright position to its reclining position, an upwardly and rearwardly extending support carried by said frame and disposed rearwardly of said back, said support engaging said back and restraining it in stable equilibrium when said back is moved into its reclining position, a head-rest, means pivotally connecting the bottom of said head-rest to the top of said back for movement between a normal position disposed substantially in alignment with said back to any one of a number of operated positions forwardly tilted with respect to said back, and means cooperating between said head-rest and said support when said back is moved into its reclining position for restraining said head-rest in any one of its forwardly tilted positions when it is moved thereto.

JOHN KRAKORA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 296,779 Plummer Apr. 15, 1884 469,357 Meigs Feb. 23, 1892 763,656 Bennett June 28, 1904 854,544 Thompson May 21, 1907 923,529 Ingrahm June 1, 1909 1,231,301 Schlanger June 26, 1917 1,939,568 Panhorst Dec. 12, 1933 2,150,478 Yerrick Mar. 14, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 106,799 Australia Mar. 16, 1939 

